In this article
The net metering scheme will end on January 1, 2027. From that moment on, you will no longer be able to offset fed-back solar power against the electricity you consume from the grid at another time. This makes it more important to use more of your own solar power directly or store it at home.
For many solar panel owners, this raises questions. What happens to the electricity you feed back into the grid? How much will self-consumption be worth in the future? What role can a home battery play? In this article, we explain what will change and how you can prepare your home for an energy market without net metering.
What changes on January 1, 2027?
Until December 31, 2026, you can still net meter the electricity that your solar panels feed back into the grid. Your energy supplier deducts the fed-back electricity from the electricity you have consumed. As a result, for net-metered electricity, you effectively receive the same value as the rate you pay for electricity consumed.
As of January 1, 2027, this legal scheme will cease. This has several consequences:
- You can no longer offset fed-back solar power against later electricity consumption.
- You pay the normal electricity rate for all electricity you purchase from your energy supplier.
- You will continue to receive a reimbursement for the electricity you feed back into the grid.
- Your energy supplier may charge feed-in costs depending on your contract.
The difference between the value of electricity you feed back into the grid and the price of electricity you purchase later will thus become larger. Solar power that you use directly in your home therefore usually has more value than solar power that first goes to the electricity grid.
Why is using your own solar power becoming more important?
Solar panels often produce the most energy around midday. Many households, however, use more electricity in the morning and evening. This often creates a surplus during the day, while later in the day, electricity from the grid is needed again.
An average household uses about 30% of the generated solar power directly. The rest is fed back into the grid. By using appliances smarter or temporarily storing energy, this self-consumption can be increased.
The electricity you use directly yourself does not need to be purchased from your energy supplier. You also do not pay energy tax and supply costs for it. After the net metering scheme ends, it will therefore become more interesting to bring the moments of generation and consumption closer together.
How you can use more of your own solar power
A home battery is one way to increase self-consumption. You can also first look at the times when you use electricity.
Use appliances when the sun shines
Preferably run the washing machine, dishwasher, or dryer during the day. Turn on these appliances one after the other to prevent them from demanding more power together than your solar panels are currently supplying.
Plan larger power consumers smartly
Do you have an electric car, electric boiler, or heat pump? Then you can, where possible, operate them at times when your solar panels generate a lot of electricity. This keeps a larger part of the generated energy within your own home.
Store the surplus in a home battery
Not all generated solar power can be used directly. A home battery stores a portion of the surplus for a later time. For example, the stored electricity can be used in the evening when your solar panels generate little or nothing anymore.
According to Milieu Centraal, a home battery can increase the average self-consumption from approximately 30% to approximately 60%. The actual percentage depends on your solar panels, energy consumption, battery capacity, and daily consumption patterns.
How does a home battery help after net metering ends?
A home battery reduces the difference between solar generation and electricity consumption. When your solar panels produce more than your home is currently using, the surplus is stored in the battery. As soon as your home needs more energy than the solar panels supply, the stored energy can be used again.
This means you feed back less solar power directly. At other times, you need to draw less electricity from the grid. This does not make you completely independent of the electricity grid, but it does give you more control over when you use energy.
The ZinVolt home battery can also be used in combination with a dynamic energy contract. The system can then charge at set times when electricity is cheap. Whether this is interesting for your situation depends on your energy contract, consumption, and chosen settings.
The ZinVolt Core as a fixed home battery for your home
The ZinVolt Core is our all-in-one home battery for households who want to store and use their solar power smarter. The battery, inverter, and smart energy management are brought together in one compact system.
The ZinVolt Core starts with 4 kWh of storage capacity. With ZinVolt Link modules, the system can later be expanded to 8, 12, or 16 kWh. This allows you to start with the capacity that suits your home now and expand later when your energy needs change.
- 4 kWh integrated storage in the Core
- Expandable to 8, 12, or 16 kWh
- 3,680 W charge and discharge power
- Built-in inverter and smart energy management
- Insights via the ZinVolt app
- Measurement data via the included P1 dongle
- 10-year warranty
The P1 dongle reads the current energy consumption and feed-in of your home. Based on this measurement data, the ZinVolt Core can determine when energy is available for storage and when stored electricity can be used in the home.
Professionally installed via a service switch
For maximum power, we recommend having the ZinVolt Core professionally installed. Our installer checks the connection, meter cupboard, and desired location in advance. The battery is then connected via a service switch, configured, and delivered fully operational.
This installation method ensures that the available charging and discharging capacity of the Core can be fully utilized. The installer tunes the system to the home and checks whether the chosen location is suitable, accessible, and sufficiently ventilated.
The ZinVolt Core can also be connected plug & play via a normal socket. The available power is more limited with this connection. For households that want to get the most out of the Core, we therefore recommend professional installation via a service switch.
Which storage capacity suits your home?
The right battery capacity is not the same for every household. A larger battery does not automatically lead to higher savings. The capacity must match the amount of energy you regularly have left over and can use later in the day.
When determining the right capacity, we look at, among other things:
- The annual yield of your solar panels
- The amount of electricity you feed back into the grid
- Your annual electricity consumption
- The times when you use a lot of energy
- Any heat pump or electric car
- Expected changes in your energy consumption
With our Net Metering Check, you get a first indication of what the end of the net metering scheme could mean for your energy bill. Based on your generation, feed-in, and consumption, you will also see which version of the ZinVolt Core might suit your situation.
What is the payback period of a home battery?
There is no fixed payback period that applies to every home. The outcome depends on the purchase and installation, energy prices, feed-in tariff, any feed-in costs, battery capacity, and how the system is used.
The chosen energy contract also plays a role. A household with a lot of feed-in has a different starting situation than a household that already uses a lot of solar power directly during the day. That is why we do not think it is wise to promise a fixed payback period without a personal calculation.
The Net Metering Check provides insight into your current situation. For a complete battery consultation, we also look at the technical connection, desired capacity, and installation options.
Prepare your home for an energy market without net metering
The end of the net metering scheme does not mean that solar panels lose their value. It mainly becomes more important to look more closely at when you generate energy and when you use it.
The ZinVolt Core helps to store available solar power for when your home needs it. With professional installation, smart control via the app, and expandable storage capacity, the system grows with your energy needs.
Do the free Net Metering Check and discover what the end of net metering could mean for your home.
Do you want to know more about the system first? Then check out the ZinVolt Core and discover which capacity suits your home.
